To feel miffed with my neighbours request?

[Aliceglass]

I don’t know if I’m being sensitive or unreasonable here. My next door neighbour approached me at the weekend to give me dates of their summer garden parties.

For context, We live in a terrace of modern houses and we all have similar sized gardens, enclosed by neighbouring gardens, back and side.

So my neighbour told me about her planned garden parties over the next few months and there were 3 dates confirmed, 2 tbc.

But, she has specifically asked us that we don’t use our garden during the days of these parties.

I was a little take aback and said that we don’t have any scheduled bbqs or parties on those dates so they will be fine. But she said they didn’t want us to use our garden, AT ALL!
Apparently it will spoil the atmosphere if I was to “pop to the bins and empty my recycling” or if they could hear the washing machine on a spin if I left the back door open!

I did laugh at this stage and say well I can’t promise to not access my garden for the whole day.

She went on to say how her friends are “well to do” and they would expect privacy and not to be interrupted by unnecessary noise.

I got a little frustrated at this point and I asked if she was just letting me know or if the neighbours the other side were also being asked this. She assured me that, yes they were and they confirmed they won’t be using their garden or the gate to their garden at the back so as to not disturb her.

Am I being unreasonable to think that this request is unusually controlling?

Please go out in your dressing gown and slippers and begin emptying a huge box of empty lager cans into your bin and then sit out on a garden chair with the most explicit songs on you can find. Then PLEASE come back and update us with what happened

Get a trampoline, preferably one that needs WD40 on the springs and invite every child you know to jump up and down, shriek and look over the fence at them. While you are drinking your wine, sitting on the bin in your pyjamas obviously.

I love that song! 😆 I’m going to have to do this at the very least!!

You need a hot tub

This calls for a trip down the chazza to buy the cheapest, rattiest sofa going. You then rig out your DH in a knotted handkerchief and shorts (plus a string vest if it's a bit nippy), get out the Bluetooth speaker and cans of lager and have a loud drinking sesh in your front garden, followed up with a screeching, sweary fight and naked sunbathing in the back garden. Bonus points for hanging out your knickers on the washing line.

I have to ask. Is her name Hyacinth Bucket?

I still think I’d be ok, there’s no way she is a daily mail reader. I expect she reads nothing less than a broadsheet!

Can you get all the neighbouring children to kick footballs over the fence at regular intervals and pop round to get their ball back? You could borrow our neighbour’s cat who LOVES barbecues and attends every single one 😊

I would organise a bring a brass instrument party in my back garden and invite everyone I knew.

Then just be like "Oh. I'm so sorry. I thought it was your young farmers party next week".

Or just said "Why would I use my back garden? I'll be in your back garden, scoffing all the Ferrero Roche with the Ambassador"

Or book them a strippergram.

Just laugh. And say no.

I wouldn’t go out to be rude, but I also wouldn’t take any notice of her.

I would be a rather concerned where all of the garden party invitees will park though.

But I’d just live my life as normal, and hope they weren’t going to be too rowdy, rich people are ill mannered too.

If it’s nice weather, there’s nothing to stop you from having a barbecue

I would hold a charity do for street sleepers with live grunge bands.

This! I literally can’t say any more than this

Please have a party hire one of them blow up pubs, a hot tub, karaoke and a really smokey barbecue and cook fish 😂

Also when Shakira fell out with her mother in law, she put a witch at the window facing onto her mother in law's 😂

do not be miffed just ignore their request. Do not go into the garden to make a point but if you want to- do it

Mug of buckfast, surely?

I'm visualising Margot Leadbetter from 'The Good Life' here....

My mums neighbours went on holiday and their daughter put a life sized cut out of a storm trooper in their front window.

I’ll leave that thought with you

( my mother was initially horrified ) 🤣🤣 it wore off after the first few weeks, they were away all summer.

Get in some really nasty pjs and pull the bins out , swigging a can of really cheap lager !
Burp if you can 😂

When all else fails, play some porn clips (with the fake oooh yes noises) and go inside with it still playing

Oh I love Margot, and Hyacinth too.

Me too. With my machine and tumble dryer going and door open. Maybe a radio too. My husband
would have to cut the grass that day too &
if i could be bothered i’d maybe jet
wash my car!

Open the bathroom window nice and wide and then make loud vomiting noises ( a jug of water tipped in the toilet at the right moment will add to the reality)